Venus+Ortiz


 * Summary: Venus Ortiz died in a nursing from lingering abortion complications at age 29 on December 16, 1998. The abortion had been performed five years earlier by Dr. Leiber at Eastern Women's Center in New York, NY.**

A suit was filed on behalf of Venus Ortiz, age 23. The following are the allegations raised in the suit against [|National Abortion Federation] member Eastern Women's Center.

Evidence indicated that the abortion of Venus' approximately 15-week pregnancy was performed by a Dr. Leiber. The abortion took place at Eastern February 24, 1993.

The suit alleged that there was negligence in administering [|anesthesia] to Venus, and failure to establish an airway. Brevital, fentanyl, and midazolam were administered in dosages and manners contrary to standards of practice, causing Venus to suffer a synergistic reaction.

Eastern's staff failed to promptly diagnose and attend to cardio-pulmonary arrest. Eastern's notes of 5:35 PM indicate "2:35 PM end of surgery ... we noticed patient's ashen color and the pulse oximeter tracing and digital readout were gone from the monitor." Emergency medical services were called. The reading of Venus' blood pressure at that time was 90/55; four minutes later it was recorded as being 146/62.

Venus was transported by ambulance to a hospital, accompanied by Dr. Cyrus, Dr. Goodman, and/or Dr. Jeffrey P. Moskowitz. However, the damage had already been done. Venus was left in permanent need of respirator, with profound brain damage. Venus was hospitalized a little over five months before being transferred to permanent nursing home care.

To further underscore Eastern's neglect of patients' needs, the suit also noted that although this was her 4th abortion, Venus had not been referred to a social worker.

Venus remained in a permanent vegetative state for the remainder of her life. She died in a Staten Island nursing home on December 16, 1998 at the age of 29.

Two other patients, Dawn Ravenelle and Dawn Mack, also died of complications of abortions done at Eastern Women's Center.

Other women who suffered severe brain injuries and died years later from those abortion complications include:
 * Suzanne Logan, who languished, mute and paralyzed, for three years until her death on December 1, 1992
 * Shelby Moran, who was cared for in a nursing home for over 20 years until her death on September 16, 1999
 * "Gabriella Alonso," who spent six years in a coma until her death in the summer of 2002
 * Christi Stile, who spent nearly 22 years in a vegetative state until her death on March 29, 2015

Source: New York County Supreme Court Index No. 112763/93; Social Security Death Index